The '''Church of Armenia''', sometimes called the '''Armenian Apostolic Church''' or the '''Armenian Orthodox Church''' is an ancient church, originally part of the ancient, undivided Church. It separated from the [[Orthodox Church|Chalcedonian Orthodox]] in AD 506, after the [[Fourth Ecumenical Council|Council of Chalcedon]]. It is one of the [[Oriental Orthodox]] Churches.

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The '''Church of Armenia''', sometimes called the '''Armenian Apostolic Church''' or the '''Armenian Orthodox Church''' is one of the [[Oriental Orthodox]] churches. It [[schism|separated]] from the [[Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox Church]] in AD 506, after the [[Fourth Ecumenical Council|Council of Chalcedon]] (AD 451).

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[[liturgy|Liturgically]], the Church has much in common with the [[Roman Catholic Church]]. For example, their bishops wear vestments almost identical to those of Western bishops. The Armenian Apostolic Church should not, however, be confused with the [[Armenian Catholic Church]], which is church in [[Uniate|union]] with the Roman Catholic Church. They also typically do not use a full [[iconostasis]], but rather a curtain.

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[[liturgy|Liturgically]], the Church has much in common with the [[Roman Catholic Church]]. For example, their bishops wear vestments almost identical to those of Western bishops. The Armenian Apostolic Church should not, however, be confused with the [[Armenian Catholic Church]], which is in [[Uniate|union]] with the Roman Catholic Church. They also typically do not use a full [[iconostasis]], but rather a curtain.

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{{orientalchurches}}

==History==

==History==

===Christianity in Armenia===

===Christianity in Armenia===

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Tradition tells us that the Apostles Thaddeus and Bartholomew first brought Christianity to the land of the Armenians in the first century. However, it would not be for about 200 more years that Armenia would become the first country to adopt [[Christianity]] as a state religion, in AD 301, when St. [[Gregory the Illuminator]], a missionary from Caesarea, converted the king of Armenia, Trdat IV, to Christianity. In time, St. Gregory was sent back to Caesarea to be elevated to the [[bishops|episcopate]] and returned to Armenia as the first '''Catholicos''' (or "universal" bishop of an area). Gregory’s son, Aristakes, attended the First [[Ecumenical Council]] at [[First Ecumenical Council|Nicea]] in AD 325.

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Tradition tells us that the Apostles Thaddeus and Bartholomew first brought Christianity to the land of the Armenians in the first century. However, it would not be for about 200 more years that Armenia would become the first country to adopt [[Christianity]] as a state religion, in AD 301, when St. [[Gregory the Enlightener|Gregory the Illuminator]], a missionary from [[Caesarea]], converted the king of Armenia, Trdat IV, to Christianity. In time, St. Gregory was sent back to Caesarea to be elevated to the [[bishops|episcopate]] and returned to Armenia as the first '''[[Catholicos]]''' (or "universal" bishop of an area). Gregory's son, Aristakes, attended the First [[Ecumenical Council]] at [[First Ecumenical Council|Nicea]] in AD 325.

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In addition to the obvious spiritual benefits which resulted from the "baptism" of Armenia, this conversion aided in unifying various ethnic groups into a cohesive Armenian identity. The Armenian Church was instrumental in the early missions to neighboring [[Church of Georgia|Georgia]] and [[Church of Albania|Albania]].

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In addition to the obvious spiritual benefits which resulted from the "baptism" of Armenia, this conversion aided in unifying various ethnic groups into a cohesive Armenian identity. The Armenian Church was instrumental in the early missions to neighboring [[Church of Georgia|Georgia]] and [[Caucasian Albania]].

===The Council of Chalcedon===

===The Council of Chalcedon===

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Together with the other churches that have come to be called [[Oriental Orthodox]] churches, the Church of Armenia [[schism|split]] with [Chalcedonian] Orthodoxy in the 5th Century, rejecting the [[dogma]]s of the [[Fourth Ecumenical Council|Council of Chalcedon]] regarding [[Christ]]'s two natures. They are sometimes called [[Monophysitism|Monophysites]], however this is a term that they reject, preferring to be called "Non-Chalcedonian," since they ''do'' claim that Christ did indeed have two natures.

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Historically, the Armenian church has been labeled [[monophysitism|monophysite]] because it (just as the [[Church of Alexandria (Coptic)|Coptic Orthodox Church]]) rejected the decisions of the [[Council of Chalcedon]], which condemned monophysitism. The Armenian Church officially severed ties with the West in 554, during the second Council of [[Dvin]] where the [[Chalcedonian|dyophysite]] formula of the Council of [[Chalcedon]] was rejected.

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However, the Armenian Orthodox Church argues that this is a wrong description of its position, as it considers Monophysitism, as taught by [[Eutyches]] and condemned at Chalcedon, a heresy and only disagrees with the formula defined by that council. The Armenian church instead adheres to the doctrine defined by [[Cyril of Alexandria]], considered as a saint by the Chalcedonian churches as well, who described Christ as being of one incarnate nature, where both divine and human nature are united. To distinguish this from [[Eutychianism|Eutychian]] and other versions of Monophysitism this position is called [[miaphysitism]].

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In recent times, both Chalcedonian and anti-Chalcedonian churches have developed a deeper understanding for each other's positions, recognizing the substantial agreement while maintaining their respective theological language. Hence, the Monophysite label is avoided when describing the Armenians' or Copts' belief regarding the Nature of Christ. It should be noted that the Armenian Church was not represented by its Supreme Patriarch&mdash;the Catholicos during the Council of Chalcedon, because the country was in war at the time, so instead a delegation of clergymen was sent.

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===The Armenian Genocide===

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==Leadership==

==Leadership==

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The hierarch of the Armenian Church is the '''Catholicos of Armenia'''. The current Catholicos is Garegin II, who resides in the city of Echmiadzin, west of Yerevan. However, a minority of the church has recognized instead the Catholicos of Cilicia, who resides in Antilyas in Lebanon, as a result of a dispute that emerged while Armenia was under Communist rule.

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The hierarch of the Armenian Church is the '''Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians'''. The current Catholicos is Garegin II, who resides at the Holy See of Echmiadzin, west of Yerevan. However, a minority of the church outside Armenia is under the jurisdiction of the Catholicos of Cilicia, who resides in Antilias in Lebanon, as a result of a dispute that emerged while Armenia was under Communist rule.

Today there are large Armenian Orthodox congreations in many middle-eastern countries outside Armenia. Of particular importance is the Armenian Apostolic Church of Iran, where Armenians are the largest Christian ethnic minority. The Armenian Church also is one of the churches (together with the [[Orthodox Church]], the [[Roman Catholic Church]], the [[Church of Alexandria (Coptic)|Copts]], [[Church of Ethiopia|Ethiopians]] and [[Church of Antioch (Jacobite)|Syrians]]) which cooperates in the use and administration of the [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Jerusalem)]].

Today there are large Armenian Orthodox congreations in many middle-eastern countries outside Armenia. Of particular importance is the Armenian Apostolic Church of Iran, where Armenians are the largest Christian ethnic minority. The Armenian Church also is one of the churches (together with the [[Orthodox Church]], the [[Roman Catholic Church]], the [[Church of Alexandria (Coptic)|Copts]], [[Church of Ethiopia|Ethiopians]] and [[Church of Antioch (Jacobite)|Syrians]]) which cooperates in the use and administration of the [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Jerusalem)]].

Liturgically, the Church has much in common with the Roman Catholic Church. For example, their bishops wear vestments almost identical to those of Western bishops. The Armenian Apostolic Church should not, however, be confused with the Armenian Catholic Church, which is in union with the Roman Catholic Church. They also typically do not use a full iconostasis, but rather a curtain.

Contents

History

Christianity in Armenia

Tradition tells us that the Apostles Thaddeus and Bartholomew first brought Christianity to the land of the Armenians in the first century. However, it would not be for about 200 more years that Armenia would become the first country to adopt Christianity as a state religion, in AD 301, when St. Gregory the Illuminator, a missionary from Caesarea, converted the king of Armenia, Trdat IV, to Christianity. In time, St. Gregory was sent back to Caesarea to be elevated to the episcopate and returned to Armenia as the first Catholicos (or "universal" bishop of an area). Gregory's son, Aristakes, attended the First Ecumenical Council at Nicea in AD 325.

In addition to the obvious spiritual benefits which resulted from the "baptism" of Armenia, this conversion aided in unifying various ethnic groups into a cohesive Armenian identity. The Armenian Church was instrumental in the early missions to neighboring Georgia and Caucasian Albania.

However, the Armenian Orthodox Church argues that this is a wrong description of its position, as it considers Monophysitism, as taught by Eutyches and condemned at Chalcedon, a heresy and only disagrees with the formula defined by that council. The Armenian church instead adheres to the doctrine defined by Cyril of Alexandria, considered as a saint by the Chalcedonian churches as well, who described Christ as being of one incarnate nature, where both divine and human nature are united. To distinguish this from Eutychian and other versions of Monophysitism this position is called miaphysitism.

In recent times, both Chalcedonian and anti-Chalcedonian churches have developed a deeper understanding for each other's positions, recognizing the substantial agreement while maintaining their respective theological language. Hence, the Monophysite label is avoided when describing the Armenians' or Copts' belief regarding the Nature of Christ. It should be noted that the Armenian Church was not represented by its Supreme Patriarch—the Catholicos during the Council of Chalcedon, because the country was in war at the time, so instead a delegation of clergymen was sent.

Leadership

The hierarch of the Armenian Church is the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians. The current Catholicos is Garegin II, who resides at the Holy See of Echmiadzin, west of Yerevan. However, a minority of the church outside Armenia is under the jurisdiction of the Catholicos of Cilicia, who resides in Antilias in Lebanon, as a result of a dispute that emerged while Armenia was under Communist rule.